What the community says
Pros
- Strongest OTC retinoid — effective for preventing and treating acne including closed comedones
- Gentler and more photostable than tretinoin, making it easier to tolerate for sensitive skin and oily/acne-prone skin
- Widely used with a recommended 'sandwich method' to minimize irritation and dryness
Cons
- Purging can be severe and last several weeks, causing new inflamed breakouts before improvement
- Commonly causes dryness, redness, flaking, and can damage skin barrier if overused or layered with other harsh actives
- Needs slow introduction and can worsen rosacea, eczema, or cause perioral dermatitis in sensitive skin types
Product details
Concerns
Use caution
Values
Product Traits
Key Ingredients
Commonly Used With
CeraVe
4 threads
3 threads
Vanicream
3 threads
Dupes & Alternatives
5 shared traits
23 recommendations
The Ordinary
2 shared traits
13 recommendations
Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion
The Ordinary
2 shared traits
8 recommendations
Where to buy
Available on Amazon
Real Reddit threads
29 threads from r/SkincareAddiction, r/tretinoin +4 more